January 13, 2022

Complete List of Windows 11 Run Commands

Run Dialog box is something that is one of the favorite utilities for an avid Windows user. Its been around since Windows 95 and became an important part of Windows User Experience over the years. While its only duty is to quickly open apps and other tools, many power users like us at TechCult, love the handy nature of the Run dialog box. Since it can access any tool, setting, or app as long as you know the command for it, we decided to give you the cheat sheet to help you breeze through Windows like a pro. But before getting to the List of Windows 11 Run commands, let’s learn how to open and use Run dialog box first. Moreover, we have illustrated the steps to clear Run command history. 

Complete List of Windows 11 Run Commands

Complete List of Windows 11 Run Commands

Run dialog box is used to directly open Windows apps, settings, tools, files & folders in  Windows 11.

How to Open and Use Run Dialog Box

There are three ways to launch the Run dialog box on Windows 11 system:

  • By pressing Windows + R keys together
  • Through Quick Link menu by hitting Windows + X keys simultaneously and selecting Run option.
  • Through Start menu Search by clicking Open.

Furthermore, you can also pin the Run dialog box icon in your Taskbar or Start menu to open it with a single click.

1. Most Commonly Used Windows 11 Run commands

cmd Windows 11

We have shown few commonly used Run commands in the table below.

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
cmd Opens the Command prompt
control Access Windows 11 Control Panel
regedit Opens the Registry Editor
msconfig Opens the System Information window
services.msc Opens Services utility
explorer Opens the File Explorer
gpedit.msc Opens the Local Group Policy Editor
chrome Opens up Google Chrome
firefox Opens up Mozilla Firefox
explore or microsoft-edge: Opens up Microsoft Edge
msconfig Opens the System Configuration dialog box
%temp% or temp Opens the Temporary files folder
cleanmgr Opens the Disk Cleanup dialog
taskmgr Opens the Task Manager
netplwiz Manage User Accounts
appwiz.cpl Access Programs and Features Control panel
devmgmt.msc or hdwwiz.cpl Access Device Manager
powercfg.cpl Manage Windows Power options
shutdown Shuts down your Computer
dxdiag Opens the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
calc Opens the Calculator
resmon Check up on System Resource (Resource Monitor)
notepad Opens up an untitled Notepad
powercfg.cpl Access Power Options
compmgmt.msc or compmgmtlauncher Opens Computer Management console
. Opens up the current user profile directory
.. Open up the Users folder
osk Open On-Screen Keyboard
ncpa.cpl or control netconnection Access Network Connections
main.cpl or control mouse Access mouse properties
diskmgmt.msc Opens the Disk Management Utility
mstsc Open up Remote Desktop Connection
powershell Open Windows PowerShell window
control folders Access Folder Options
firewall.cpl Access Windows Defender Firewall
logoff Logout of the Current User Account
write Open Microsoft Wordpad
mspaint Open untitled MS Paint
optionalfeatures Turn Windows Features On/Off
Open the C: Drive
sysdm.cpl Open System Properties dialog
perfmon.msc Monitor the performance of the system
mrt Open Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
charmap Open Windows Character Map table
snippingtool Open Snipping Tool
winver Check Windows Version
magnify Open Microsoft Magnifier
diskpart Open Disk Partition Manager
Enter Website URL Open any website
dfrgui Open Disk Defragmenter utility
mblctr Open Windows Mobility Center

Also Read: Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts

2. Run Commands for Control Panel

Timedate.cpl Windows 11

You can also access the Control Panel from the Run dialog box. Here are a few Control Panel commands that are given in the table below.

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
Timedate.cpl Open Time and Date properties
Fonts Open Fonts Control Panel folder
Inetcpl.cpl Open Internet Properties
main.cpl keyboard Open Keyboard Properties
control mouse Open Mouse Properties
mmsys.cpl Access Sound properties
control mmsys.cpl sounds Open Sound control panel 
control printers Access Devices and Printers properties
control admintools Open Administrative Tools (Windows Tools) folder in Control Panel.
intl.cpl Open Region properties – Language, Date/Time format, keyboard locale.
wscui.cpl Access Security and Maintenance Control Panel.
desk.cpl Control Display settings
Control desktop Control Personalization settings
control userpasswords or control.exe /name Microsoft.UserAccounts Manage current user account
control userpasswords2 Open User Accounts dialog box
devicepairingwizard Open Add a Device Wizard
recdisc Create a System Repair Disc
shrpubw Create A Shared Folder Wizard
Control schedtasks or taskschd.msc Open Task Scheduler
wf.msc Access Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention Open Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature
rstrui Access System Restore feature
fsmgmt.msc Open Shared Folders window
systempropertiesperformance Access Performance Options
tabletpc.cpl Access Pen and Touch options
dccw Control Display Color Calibration
UserAccountControlSettings Adjust User Account Control (UAC) Settings
mobsync Open Microsoft Sync Center
sdclt Access Backup and Restore control panel
slui View and Change Windows Activation settings
wfs Open Windows Fax and Scan utility
control access.cpl Open Ease of Access Center
control appwiz.cpl,,1 Install a program from the network

Also Read: Fix Low Microphone Volume in Windows 11

3. Run Commands to Access Settings

open Windows Update Settings Windows 11

To access Windows Settings through the Run dialog box, there are also some commands which are given in the table below.

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
ms-settings:windowsupdate Open Windows Update settings
ms-settings:windowsupdate-action Check for updates on the Windows Update page
ms-settings:windowsupdate-options Access Windows Update Advanced options
ms-settings:windowsupdate-history View Windows Update History
ms-settings:windowsupdate-optionalupdates View Optional updates
ms-settings:windowsupdate-restartoptions Schedule the restart
ms-settings:delivery-optimization Open Delivery Optimization settings
ms-settings:windowsinsider Join the Windows Insider Program

Also Read: How to Use Sticky Notes in Windows 11

4. Run Commands for Internet Configuration

 ipconfig all command to display ip address information of all the network adapters

Following is the list of Run commands for Internet Configuration in the table below.

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
ipconfig/all Display information about IP configuration and the address of every adapter.
ipconfig/release Release all local IP addresses and loose connections.
ipconfig/renew Renew all local IP addresses and reconnect to the internet and network.
ipconfig/displaydns View your DNS cache contents.
ipconfig/flushdns Delete DNS Cache contents
ipconfig/registerdns Refresh DHCP and Re-register your DNS Names and IP Addresses
ipconfig/showclassid Display DHCP Class ID
ipconfig/setclassid Modify DHCP Class ID

Also Read: How to Change DNS Server on Windows 11

5. Run Commands to Open Different Folders in File Explorer

recent command in Run dialog box Windows 11

Here is the list of Run commands to open different folders in File Explorer:

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
recent Open Recent files Folder
documents Open Documents Folder
downloads Open Downloads Folder
favorites Open Favorites Folder
pictures Open Pictures Folder
videos Open Videos folder
Type Drive name followed by a colon
or Folder path
Open Specific drive or Folder location
onedrive Open OneDrive folder
shell:AppsFolder Open all Apps folder
wab Open Windows Address Book
%AppData% Open App Data folder
debug Access Debug Folder
explorer.exe Open current user directory
%systemdrive% Open Windows Root Drive

Also Read: How to Hide Recent Files and Folders on Windows 11

6. Run Commands to Open Various Applications

skype command in Run dialog box Windows 11

The list of Run commands to open Microsoft apps is given in the table below:

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
skype Launch Windows Skype App
excel Launch Microsoft Excel
winword Launch Microsoft Word
powerpnt Launch Microsoft PowerPoint
wmplayer Open Windows Media Player
mspaint Launch Microsoft Paint
access Launch Microsoft Access
outlook Launch Microsoft Outlook
ms-windows-store: Launch Microsoft Store

Also Read: How to Fix Microsoft Store Not Opening on Windows 11

7. Run Commands to Access Windows In-built Tools

dialer command Windows 11

Listed below are Run commands to access the Windows in-built tools:

COMMANDS ACTIONS
dialer Open Phone Dialer
windowsdefender: Open Windows Security Program (Windows Defender Antivirus)
echo Open Displaying Message On Screen
eventvwr.msc Open Event Viewer
fsquirt Open Bluetooth Transfer Wizard
fsutil Open Know the file and volume utilities
certmgr.msc Open Certificate Manager
msiexec View Windows Installer details
comp Compare files in Command Prompt
ftp To Start File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program at the MS-DOS prompt
verifier Launch Driver Verifier Utility
secpol.msc Open Local Security Policy Editor
label To get Volume Serial Number for C: drive
migwiz Open Migration Wizard
joy.cpl Configure Game Controllers
sigverif Open File Signature Verification Tool
eudcedit Open Private Character Editor
dcomcnfg or comexp.msc Access Microsoft Component Services
dsa.msc Open Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) console
dssite.msc Open Active Directory Sites and Services tool
rsop.msc Open Resultant Set of Policy Editor
wabmig Open Windows Address Book Import Utility.
telephon.cpl Setup Phone and Modem Connections
rasphone Open Remote Access Phonebook
odbcad32 Open ODBC Data Source Administrator
cliconfg Open SQL Server Client Network Utility
iexpress Open IExpress wizard
psr Open Problem Steps Recorder
voicerecorder Open Voice Recorder
credwiz Backup and restore user names and passwords
systempropertiesadvanced Open System Properties (Advanced Tab) dialog box
systempropertiescomputername Open System Properties (Computer Name Tab) dialog box
systempropertieshardware Open System Properties (Hardware Tab) dialog box
systempropertiesremote Open System Properties (Remote Tab) dialog box
systempropertiesprotection Open System Properties (System Protection Tab) dialog box
iscsicpl Open Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool
colorcpl Open Color Management tool
cttune Open ClearType Text Tuner wizard
tabcal Open Digitizer Calibration Tool
rekeywiz Access Encrypting File Wizard
tpm.msc Open Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management tool
fxscover Open Fax Cover Page Editor
narrator Open Narrator
printmanagement.msc Open Print Management tool
powershell_ise Open Windows PowerShell ISE window
wbemtest Open Windows Management Instrumentation Tester tool
dvdplay Open DVD Player
mmc Open Microsoft Management Console
wscript Name_Of_Script.VBS (e.g. wscript Csscript.vbs) Execute a Visual Basic Script

Also Read: How to Enable Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 Home Edition

8. Other Miscellaneous Yet Useful Run Commands

lpksetup command in Run dialog box Windows 11

Along with the above list of commands, there are other miscellaneous Run commands too. They are listed in the below table. 

RUN COMMANDS ACTIONS
lpksetup Install or Uninstall Display Language
msdt Open Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool
wmimgmt.msc Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Management console
isoburn Open Windows Disc Image Burning Tool
xpsrchvw Open XPS Viewer
dpapimig Open DPAPI Key Migration Wizard
azman.msc Open Authorization Manager
locationnotifications Access Location Activity
fontview Open Font Viewer
wiaacmgr New Scan Wizard
printbrmui Open Printer Migration tool
odbcconf View ODBC Driver Configuration and Usage dialog
printui View Printer User Interface
dpapimig Open Protected Content Migration dialog
sndvol Control Volume Mixer
wscui.cpl Open Windows Action Center
mdsched Access Windows Memory Diagnostic Scheduler
wiaacmgr Access Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard
wusa View Windows Update Standalone Installer details
winhlp32 Get Windows Help and Support
tabtip Open Tablet PC Input Panel
napclcfg Open NAP Client Configuration tool
rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables Edit Environment Variables
fontview FONT NAME.ttf (replace ‘FONT NAME’ with the name of the font you would like to view (e.g. font view arial.ttf) See Font preview
“C:Windowssystem32rundll32.exe” keymgr.dll,PRShowSaveWizardExW Create a Windows Password Reset Disk (USB)
perfmon /rel Open computer’s Reliability Monitor
C:WindowsSystem32rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditUserProfiles Open User Profiles settings – Edit/Change type
bootim Open Boot Options

Hence, this is the complete & comprehensive list of Windows 11 Run commands.

Also Read: How to Find Windows 11 Product Key

How to Clear Run Command History

If you want to clear Run command history, then follow the given steps:

1. Press Windows + R keys together to open Run dialog box.

2. Type regedit and click on OK, as shown.

Type regedit in Run dialog box to open Registry Editor in Windows 11.

3. Click on Yes in the confirmation prompt for User Control Access.

4. In the Registry Editor window, go to the following location path from the address bar.

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerRunMRU

Registry Editor window

5. Now, select all the files in the right pane except Default and RunMRU.

6. Right-click to open the context menu and select Delete, as depicted.

Context menu.

7. Click on Yes in the Confirm Value Delete dialog box.

Delete confirmation prompt

Recommended:

We hope this list of Windows 11 Run commands will help you in long run and make you the computer whiz of your group. Apart from the above, you can also learn How to Enable God Mode in Windows 11 to access & customize Settings & tools easily from a single folder. Write to us in the comment section below about your suggestions and feedback. Also, drop the next topic you want us to bring on next.